A Day in the Life of a Photographer Birder

We have some wonderful guests staying with us (Susie and Steve) that have become good friends over the years. Yesterday, after breakfast we headed out together to Huachuca Canyon to do some birding. The scenery was beautiful, the "hike" was welcomed exercise, the company was enjoyable ......... oh, and the birding was better than expected. 

Here's how the day went pictorially: 

Almost immediately there was the barking of an Elegant Trogon. Thanks to Steve we located it very quickly. Getting a good photograph was a little tricky as it moved around frequently and always with lots of tree branches and leaves obstructing the view or making focusing difficult. Of the 15 or so photos only one was in focus with no obstructions. Of course, his head was turned at the time.

Elegant Trogon

Then we were treated to a pair of Hepatic Tanagers. The male quickly flew up the wall of the canyon. I could see him occasionally but he was much too far for a photo. I only got one photo before he flew away. It's a completely out of focus photo that I only -- temporarily -- saved to demonstrate the difficulties in photographing birds.

Hepatic Tanager Male

The female Hepatic Tanager presented a different challenge. She flew about six feet from me, but with my super telephoto lens was too CLOSE to focus on. She also had the habit of sitting directly above me or directly into the sun. After a couple of minutes though she appeared at a distance of about 100 feet and I was able to get some photos. This is the one I like best:

Hepatic Tanager Female

Next comes a treat for me. My first good photo of a Black Throated Gray Warbler. With the photo comes the knowledge of just how beautiful this bird is. The illustrations in Sibley's for example, really don't do this bird justice. So, for me, this was the prize of the day:

Black Throated Gray Warbler

We continued on to an area with a magnificent Sycamore Tree. It just felt like the perfect place to sit for a bit. To our surprise and good fortune, Steve found a couple of Hummingbird nests in the surrounding fir trees. We watched as the hummers flew into and out of their nests. It was delightful. It took some maneuvering to get to a place where a photo was possible. Susie suggested that I climb an adjacent tree.   After we all had a good laugh I continued to search for an answer. A hillside next to one of the nests provided the best angle. Identifying the hummer is a bit tricky, but I am guessing a Black Chinned Hummingbird. Here's one of the photos of her sitting on her nest.

Black Chinned Hummingbird

 Next, a California Sister Butterfly seemed to provide a wonderful photo op:

California Sister

And, in the occasional absence of birds, plants provided a couple of photos:

Columbine

Just some Grasses

Then finally, what would have been a nice treat was a Hermit Warbler. But, once again he moved around so quick a photo was very difficult. This one too will go into the trash bin as soon as the post is done.

Hermit Warbler

So, all in all a wonderful day birding with good friends. Thanks Susie and Steve!

More Flowering Flora Fotos

As I continue with plants that are currently flowering here at The Azure Gate B&B, I come to cactus. 

Hedgehog cactus have already bloomed (March); Fishhook Barrel Cactus doesn't bloom until Summer. But prickly pear, cholla, and the Saguaros are now blooming. Our guests have taken hundreds of photos of the blooming cactus the past two weeks.  Today, the prickly pears:

Indian Fig or "Mission" Cactus

Close-Up of the Indian Fig Cactus

Enggelmann's Prickly Pear (the most common)

Close Up of Enggelmann's Prickly Pear

Pancake Prickly Pear

Black and White Spined Prickly Pear

Black and White Spined Prickly Pear

Purple Prickly Pear

Purple Prickly Pear

Rabbit Eared Prickly Pear

Agaves, Yuccas, and Ocotillo: Flowering Flora Fotos

Continuing with "Flowering Flora Fotos" we start with Ocotillo. Ocotillo are not abundant on our property. They much prefer foothills. Where we are is relatively flat just adjacent to the Catalina foothills. Next we have some more Agaves and Aloes which we have an abundance of. There are several species, which I am sure a botanist could provide scientific names for. Then finally the Red Cane Yucca -- a favorite plant of our Javelinas. Consequently, we don't have many of them left.

Ocotillo

Agave sp.

Agave sp.

Aloe of some kind

Red Cane Yucca

Flowering Flora

Now, back to the Flowering Flora. We had record freezes here in Southern Arizona in February. And while they were particularly hard on our flowering plants, especially the hummingbird loving salvia, we  still have several flowering plants. So, here are those photographs, again taken in the past week here at The Azure Gate B&B.

Bougainvillea

Plumbago

Plumbago

Lantana

Oleander

Great Horned Owl and Owlet

I'll get back to the flowering flora tomorrow, but wanted to get a quick post today of a female Great Horned Owl and her Owlet. I took both photos this morning:

Great Horned Owlet

Great Horned Owl Female

Spring in Southern Arizona - III

Continuing with all the flowers that are currently blooming here at The Azure Gate, we come to Trees. We have lots of Trees on our property including two very large aleppo pine trees, more than 100 each of mesquite and palo verde trees, some unidentified fir trees, 15 or so each of desert willows, eucalyptus, and bottle brushes; and a small sample of Arizona White Oak and Rocky Mountain Elderberry trees. And, there are a variety of fruit trees and shrubs as well. (I'll do those tomorrow).   Not all bloom and those that do don't all bloom here in the Spring. But, they sure are colorful when they do bloom. Here are some examples from photographs I've taken here at The Azure Gate in the past week:

Bottle Brush

Desert Willow (still a little early for full bloom).

Mesquite Flowers Close-Up

Mesquite Tree

Young Palo Verde Tree planted last October.

Palo Verde Tree Flowers Close-Up

Spring in Southern Arizona - II

My apologies for the absence of posts these past two days. We have been very busy. Guests here to see the birds or the flowers. This is a great season for both. Migratory birds arrive for the summer with other migratory birds passing through on their way north. As for the flowers -- well, that's what this blog is about today and for the next couple of days.

The photos I will be showing you today and for the next few days were all taken here at The Azure Gate B&B -- and all within the past week.

Today, I'll just call them "Bushes:"

Creosote

Honeysuckle

Jasmine

Mexican Bird of Paradise

Mexican Bird of Paradise Close-Up

Oleander